Coincidence mechanism



1965 R. l. ABOCZKY 3,199,779

COINCIDENCE MECHANISM Filed July 23, 1962 I NVEN TOR.

ROBE/WI. ABOCZKV BY 5 t ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,199,779 COINCEDENCE MECHANISM Robert I. Aboczky, Garfield, NJ, assignor to The Bendix Corporation, Teterboro, NJ a corporation of Delaware Filed July 23, 1962, Ser. No. 211,530 3 Claims. (Cl. 235-91) This invention relates generally to a coincidence mechanism and more particularly to improvements in an analog storage or memory mechanism such as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,830,762, granted April 15, 1958, to Elmer M. Christensen and which mechanism is capable of storing input information of various degrees of input shaft rotation on either clockwise or counterclockwise input shaft rotations while an output shaft is temporarily held stationary by a suitable brake means and in which mechanism the input information is released through the output shaft upon the release of the brake means.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel compact storage mechanism in which there may be stored rotation information imparted to a drive shaft while a driven shaft thereof is held stationary so that, upon release of the driven shaft, a device driven thereby may be properly operated without losing the information fed into the drive shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and novel coincidence, zero-set and memory mechanism in which as distinguished from the structure of the aforenoted US. Patent No. 2,830,762, there are provided three discs rotatably mounted on an input shaft, two of which discs have hub portions in which are mounted a plurality of pile-up stops rotatably mounted on the input shaft so as to drivingly connect a first and second disc and a second and third disc, respectively, and further compactly mounted about the respective hub portions are fiat coil spring members operatively connected between the first and second discs and the second and third discs to effect a desired condition in which the storage of information and the release of such stored information may be effected by the operation of a suitable brake mechanism operatively connected to the third disc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved coincidence storage mechanism capable of acting in either rotated direction and effective to store rotated information exceeding two revolutions of the input shaft and as many revolutions in either direction of rotation as may be desired merely by the provision of a sufiicient number of pile-up stops and a sufficient length of the spring members within the practical operating limitations of the design of the mechanism.

These and other objects and features of the invention are pointed out in the following description in terms of the embodiment thereof which is shown in the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawing:

The drawing is a sectional view of a coincidence mechanism embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is indicated by a numeral 5 a coincidence mechanism embodying the invention and including an input shaft to which there is afiixed at one end an input gear 12 having formed integral therewith and extending axially therefrom a hub portion 14. In an alternate form of the invention, the shaft 10 may be arranged separate from the input gear 12 with the gear 12 rotatably mounted thereon.

In the arrangement shown in the drawing, the input gear 12 is arranged in toothed engagement with a gear 15 3,129,779 Patented Aug. 10, 1965 "ice driven by suitable control means not shown. There is rotatably mounted within the hub portion 14 suitable pileup stops 16, 18, 20, and 22 which are rotatably mounted on the input shaft 10 and arranged in position between the input gear 12 and a bearing member 27 carried by a hub portion 28 of the disc like member 29. There is secured to the hub portion 14 by a pin 31 an inner end of a coil spring 33 wound in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the gear 12 end of the mechanism. An outer end of the spring 33 is secured to the disc 29 at the point indicated by the numeral 35.

The disc 29 in turn further has formed integral therewith a hub portion 37 extending axially therefrom. Mounted within the hub portion 37 are suitable pile-up stops 41, 43, 45, and 47 arranged in position between a bearing member 51 mounted in the hub portion 28 in the disc 29 and a bearing member 53 mounted in a hub portion 55 of a driven gear 57. The driven gear 57 has affixcd thereto a disc 59. Secured to the hub portion 37 of disc 29 by a pin 61 is a coil spring 63 which is wound in a clockwise direction opposite from that of the counterclockwise spring 33, as viewed from the gear 12 end of the mechanism. The outer end of the spring 63 is secured at 65 to the disc 59.

An additional bearing member 71 is mounted in the hub portion 55 of the gear 57 and rotatably mounted in the bearing members 25, 27, 51, 53 and 71 is the input shaft 10.

Further the input gear 12 has a stop arranged for cooperative engagement with pile-up stop 16 while pileup stop 22 is arranged for cooperative engagement with a stop 82 carried by disc 29. Similarly the gear 57 has a stop 84 arranged for cooperative engagement with pileup stop 41 while pile-up stop 47 is arranged for cooperative engagement with a stop 86 carried by disc 29.

In the aforenoted arrangement the pile-up stops are so arranged and spring loaded that the pile-up stops provide the multi-turn feature of the mechanism in which coincidence exists in the mechanism when the input gear 12 and the output gear 57 are at some fixed relationship to each other. This relationship is established in the assembly of the mechanism by rotating the input gear '12 which has the stop 80 fixed to it, to such a position that all of these pile-up stops 16, 18, 20, and 22 are in cooperative contacting relation as well as the pile-up stops 41, 43, 45 and 47 with a preload being applied by the springs 33 and 63 holding the several pile-up stops in such position. Thus the pile-up stop 16 is in contacting relation with stop 89 carried by input gear 12, pile-up stop 22 is in contacting relation with stop 82 carried by disc 29, pileup stop 41 is in contacting relation with stop 84 carried by the disc 59 and the pile-up stop 47 is in contacting relation with the stop 86 affixed to the disc 29. The drive gear 15 may be then afiixed in this relationship to the input gear 12 and shaft 10.

In viewing the mechanism 5 from its gear 12 end, stops 80, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 82 are held in contact with each other by spring 33 which is secured at 35 and at pin 31 such that the spring coils counterclockwise from the hub portion 14 to disc 29. The required preload to hold stops 80, 16, 18, 20, 22 and S2 in contact is wound into spring 33 by displacing stops 16, 13, 20, 22 and 32 axially from stop 81) and then turning shaft 10 in a clockwise direction holding disc 29 fixed. After stop 81) is displaced angularly from stop 16, in a clockwise direction somewhat more than one turn, stops 8t), 16, 18, 20, 22 and 82 are again axially engaged.

Again viewing the mechanism 5 from its gear 12 end, stops 86, 47, 45, 43, 41, and 84 are held in contact with each other by spring 63 which is secured at 65 and at pin 61, such that the spring coils clockwise from the hub portion 37 to disc 59. The required preload to hold stops $6, 47, 45, 4-3, 41 and 34 in contact is Wound into spring 63 by displacing stops 47, 45, 43, 41, and 8d axially from stop 86 and then turning hub portion 28 in a counterclockwise direction holding disc 59 fixed. After stop 86 is displaced angularly from stop 47, in a counterclockwise direction somewhat more than one turn, stops 86, 47, 45, 43, 41 and 84 are again axially engaged.

In the operation of the aforenoted mechanism, there is provided a brake mechanism 104 of a conventional type to supply a braking force to a gear 102 drivingly connecting the output gear 57 to a third gear 164 which may in turn be connected by a shaft 106 to a suitable mechanism to be operated thereby. In operation, if power transmission is required through the mechanism to the shaft 196, the brake 100 under control of the operator may be released whereupon the coincidence mechanism 5 remains in an integral driving relation through the preload set into the springs 33 and 63.

However, if the mechanism is required to store information, the output gear 57 is braked by the operator rendering the brake 106 effective. In such action, a clockwise input, looking at the end of the shaft 10 from gear end 12 would cause stop 80 to move away from the pile-up stop 16 for one revolution of the input shaft 16 against the force of the spring 33, and at this point, it would pick up stop 18 and move it away from pile-up stop 20 for another revolution against the force of the spring 33 and the described operation would continue until each of the pile-up stops 16, 18, 20, and 22, respectively, have moved away from each of the end cooperating stops and the pile-up stop 22 has finally moved out of contacting relation with the stop 82 carried by the disc 29 until it once again re-engages stop 82 at the other side of, and at the limit of, the clockwise movement thereof Which would in turn serve to limit the storage operation.

In the foregoing storage operation, the stop 86, as Well as the pile-up stops 47, 45, 43, 41 and stop 84 do not move relative one to the other as they are locked against each other during such a locked input. However, upon a counterclockwise input being applied to the input gear 12, the stops 80, 16, 13, 2t), and 22 and 62 remain in a contacting driving relation so as to drive the disc 29 and thereby cause the stop 86 to drive the contacting pile-up stops 47, 45, 43, and 41 against the force of coil spring 63 in a counterclockwise direction.

The springs or stops are restrained in their displaced position by the gear ratio preceding the input gear 12 of the mechanism. With the foregoing in mind, the springs 33 and 63 are so designed as not to exceed the reflected torque of the gear ratio at the input gear 12 of the mechanism 5.

Finally, in the operation of the aforenoted mechanism 5, the stored information in the mechanism 5 is transmitted through the output gear 57 to required components by the release of the brake 16% holding the output gear 57. At this time, the energy stored in either spring 33 or spring 63 serves to drive the output gear 57 until all of the pile-up stops lock in contacting relation one with the other and coincidence again exists between the input gear 12 and the output gear 57. With the addition or deletion of the several pile-up stops, the mechanism 5 may be so modified as to vary the limit in the number of turns for effecting the memory or storage operation.

Thus in the foregoing operation, it will be seen that angular information imparted to gear end shaft assembly 12 and 16 is stored in either spring 33 or 63 when the brake mechanism 101 is holding output gear 57 fixed. Viewing the mechanism 5 from its gear 12 end, if clockwise rotation is imparted to gear 12, stops 80, 16, 18, 2t), 22 and 82 displace angularly from their in contact position against the increasing force of spring 33. Stops 86, 47, 45, 43, 41 and 84 remain in contact and fixed since a clockwise input to gear 12 is in the same direction as the preload force of spring 63 is holding them in contact. Upon release of the brake mechanism, stops 86, 47, 45, 43, 41 and 84 will turn in a clockwise direction until spring 33 drives stops 80, 16, 18, 2t), 22 and 82 to engage each other.

If counterclockwise rotation is imparted to gear 12, stops 86, 47, 45, 43, 41 and 84 displace angularly from their in contact position against the increasing force of spring 63. Stops 89, 16, 18, 2t 22 and 82 turn in unison since a counterclockwise input to gear 12 is in the same direction as the preload force of spring 33 holding them in contact. Upon release of the brake mechanism spring 63 will drive stops 86, 47, 45, 43, 41 and 84 to engage each other.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangement of the parts, which will now appear to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is, therefore, to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an analog storage mechanism of a type including a drive shaft, a driven member and an intermediate member mounted for rotation relative to the said drive shaft and driven member, a first preloaded spring connecting the drive shaft to said intermediate member, and a second preioaded spring connecting said intermediate member to said driven member; the improvement comprising a drive member aflixed to the drive shaft and including a first hub portion extending axially from the drive member and in spaced relation to the drive shaft, said intermediate member including a second hub portion projecting axially therefrom and in spaced relation to the drive shaft, pile up stops rotatably mounted on the drive shaft and positioned within the first hub portion between the .drive member and the intermediate member, said drive member including a stop arranged to operatively engage one of the said pile-up stops, said intermediate member including another stop arranged to operatively engage another of said pile-up stops, other pileup stops rotatably mounted on the drive shaft and positioned within the second hub portion and between the driven member and the intermediate member, the intermediate member including a stop member to operatively engage one of the other pile-up stops and the dniven member including a stop to operatively engage another of the said other pile-up stops, the first spring being wound about the first hub portion and the second spring being wound about the second hub portion, means for applying a braking force to the driven member whereupon information may be stored in the mechanism in one sense by rotation of the drive member in one direction and information may be stored in the mechanism in another sense by rotation of the drive member in an opposite sense, and such stored information may be applied through the driven member by the release of the braking means.

2. A motion storage mechanism comprising a drive member, a driven member and an intermediate member positioned in spaced relation to the drive member and the driven member, a shaft afiixed to one of said members, means for rotatably mounting the other of said members on said shaft, a first set of pile-up stop members for connecting the drive member to the intermediate member, a second set of pile-up stop members for drivingly connecting the intermediate member to the driven member, a first spring member wound about the first set of pile-up stop members and resiliently connecting the drive member to the intermediate member and a second spring member Wound about the second set of pile-up stop members and resiliently connecting the intermediate member to the driven member, means for applying a braking force to the driven member to effect .a storage of information in the mechanism upon rotation of a drive member in one sense and a storage of other information upon rotation of the drive member in an opposite sense, and said stored information being effectively applied to the driven member upon release of the braking means.

3. A motion storage mechanism comprising a drive member, a driven member and an intermediate member positioned in spaced relation to the drive member and the driven member, a shaft, means for rotatably mounting at least two of said members on said shaft, a first set of pile-nip stop members for oonnecting the drive member to the intermediate member, a second set of pile-up stop members for drivingly connecting the intermediate member to the driven member, a first spring member wound about the first set of pile-up stop members and resiliently connecting the drive member to the intermediate member and .a second spring member wound about the second set of pile-up stop members and resiliently connecting the intermediate member to the driven member, means for applying a braking force to the driven member to effect a storage of information in the mechanism upon rotation of a drive member in one sense and a storage of other information upon rotation of the drive member in an opposite sense, and said stored information being effectively applied to the driven member upon release of the braking means.

References (liter! by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,830,762 4/58 Christensen 235-91 2,942,482 6/60 Lig-get et a1 74--10.2

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner. 

2. A MOTION STORAGE MECHANISM COMPRISING A DEIVE MEMBER, A DRIVEN MEMBER AND AN INTERMEDIATE MEMEBR POSITIONED IN SPACED RELATION TO THE DRIVE MEMBER AND THE DRIVEN MEMBER, A SHAFT AFFIXED TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, MEANS FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS ON SAID SHAFT, A FIRST SET OF PILE-UP STOP MEMBERS FOR CONNECTING THE DRIVE MEMBER TO THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER, A SECOND SET OF PILE-UP STOP MEMBERS FOR DRIVINGLY CONNECTING THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER TO THE DRIVEN MEMBER, A FIRST SPRING MEMBER WOUND ABOUT THE FIRST SET OF PILE-UP STOP MEMBERS AND RESILIENTLY CONNECTING THE DRIVE MEMBER TO THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER AND A SECOND SPRING MEMBER WOUND ABOUT THE SECOND SET OF PILE-UP STOP MEMBERS AND RESILIENTLY CONNECTING THE INTERMEDIATE MEMBER TO THE DRIVEN MEMBER, MEANS FOR APPLYING A BRAKING FORCE TO THE DRIVEN MEMBER TO EFFECT A STORAGE OF INFORMATION IN THE MECHANISM UPON ROTATION OF A DRIVE MEMBER IN ONE SENE AND A STORAGE OF OTHER INFORMATION UPON ROTATION OF THE DRIVE MEMBER IN AN OPPOSITE SENSE, AND SAID STORED INFORMATION BEING EFFECTIVELY APPLIED TO THE DRIVEN MEMBEUPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKING MEANS. 